One shot...single action. About the most unpleasant experience ever. My friend who bought the Sig 228 also got to shoot it..why anyone would want to go through a box of this stuff is beyond me...

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

what's the problem

The worst I've ever shot was .44mag.with some stout loads,I don't know if I'd want to get much hotter.Those 500's look like a lot of bullet to me.
Sip.,What was your largest handgun experience prior to this beast?

DG

Beats getting eaten by a grizzly bear!

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WALSTIB

I've shot mine DA, then went to see my orthopedic surgeon.

A bit tough to carry IWB, also.

I agree.

Can not for the life of me understand how anyone can say they "enjoy" shooting the heavy recoiling big bore handguns.


FN in MT

When I was taking my CWP class, the instructor asked if anyone wanted to shoot his 4 in. 500. I was the only one to raise my hand. He looked for some ammo, not finding any, then said that if his son could reload some before I left, I was more than welcome to shoot it. Unfortunately, his son never came through.

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

440 gr Corbons are a beast , 275 gr Hornady's a piece of cake . Have never shot the 700 grainers.
I'm setting up to reload this cartridge right now, should make life much easier. I alternate between this and my 454 when deer hunting.

I would refuse one as a gift if I had to keep and shoot it.

The .44 Mag is more than enough for me. Anything that needs more than that is rifle material.

A model 29 and I actually enjoyed it...but this thing hurt my thumb joint...

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

Guess it takes a real man....err...woman

I've shot a 29 with a 4" barrel what a hoot! But my dads old '62 three screw Ruger gets everyones attention.
I don't think I'm gonna see anything soon I couldn't take care of with a .44 here.
So you gotta ask........Clint Eastwood.
DG

I don't even shoot a 44Mag. anymore, in fact, I never did enjoy shooting full loads in one. I was at an outdoor range in Weatherford OK enjoying shooting my K38 Heavy Masterpiece and my Model 28-2.

This guy comes out with a 500 and shoots it very sparingly and was flinching every time he pulled the trigger. He came over to me insisting that I should shoot his gun telling me how much fun it was. I politely
declined several times and he kept on until I got pissed and told him I had been watching him and as much as he was flinching, he was having nothing but misery so please leave me alone. He did no more shooting and packed his stuff and left. I guess misery needed company.

because it's FUN !!!!

Those must be some honking HUGE perhistoric deer your hunting, about the size of the American Bison.

Killed and butchered with one shot.

Jane's "Small Arms of the World" intends to classify the .500 S&W as a crew served weapon. Issued with a caisson and a Hum-V

I was actually a little disappointed in the recoil when I first shot mine. I expected worse. I think the combination of the weight of the gun, the 8-3/8 inch barrel, the muzzle brake design and the rubber grips were pretty effective at reducing recoil.

Like others have said, the ammo choice greatly affects recoil in this round. That said, I sure don't find it a fun cartridge to plink with.

The most painful revolver I ever shot was the M-329 with the wood stocks and Federal 240 grain JHP ammo. That really hurt!

I also shot an aluminum framed Taurus Tracker .44 magnum...nice recoil absorbing grips but still a beast....

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

reloading is the ticket....bring that cost down from around 3 bucks each to about 80 cents each...bout 39grains of h110...there ya go!

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

I've never shot the .500 (or the .460, for that matter). I don't care to be on a firing line with a .357... but I got a chance to shoot a Super Alaskan snub in .454Casull last year and enjoyed every single round. I'd buy one if I could find the right price, and probably mostly shoot .45LCs from it...

Why do I like it? Darned if I know. Something neat about having your whole lower arm ride the recoil up. I didn't think it was that punishing, although I wouldn't be eager to shoot a full box of ammo either.

I'll tell ya what I did enjoy, the guy's friend had a Llama 1911 style 9mm....this thing was gorgeous...blue like the the old days of Colt...and it shot like a dream...all steel frame and with a grip about as thick as my Hi-Power even though it's a single stack...sweet gun!

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

The 8 3/8 500 I shot was whimpy compared to the snubbie 500.

But I think my friends TC Contender in 454 Casull is worse.

Or maybe his scandium snubbie 357 mag.

I really like my Lorcin 25 cal, craftsmanship at its finest. And oh, the nickle finish....

No Llama for you! Now get out!!

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

Interesting thread. I purchased a 500 earlier this year (the dealer kept talking himself down on the price until I HAD to buy it). I was wondering just how badly that thing would recoil. Well, you know you've fired it, but it really isn't all that bad. I put about 50 or 60 rounds down range last weekend, my hand didn't fall off, I didn't have to get surgery on my wrist, elbow or shoulder, and I can still hold a pen and type on the computer. Actually, the recoil was almost a dissapointment after hearing all the hype on how badly it kicked! Then again, I've never been particularly recoil-sensitive, either. Frankly, between the weight of the gun, the compensator and the excellent grips, the recoil of the 500 is really quite acceptable. I will admit, though, this is the one gun I have that will wear its rubber grips (I much prefer wood grips, in general).

As to the guys who wouldn't have one because of the recoil, that's fine, but you really should base that opinion and/or decision on actually firing one, rather than just imagining what the recoil of a .500 Mag would be like. The recoil really isn't nearly what I expected it to be.

One other thing I like about the .500 - it forced me to get back into reloading (I hadn't reloaded for 20-30 years, been meaning to start again, but the cost of factory ammo for the .500 forced my hand)! I'm reloading again, and enjoying it.

Ah-nold called.
He's pressuring me to put "Girlie-man" in place of "Member" for your user title......




Actually, I agree.
The first 500 I ever saw looked about 3 feet long, and had swivels. I'm thinkin'- "A handgun that needs sling swivels......NOT"

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Agreed: I have never been hammered by a .44 mag load that was as bad what a model 340PD will dish out. It's just a nasty shot to the heel of the firing hand. So to answer the question, no...I have never fired anything larger than a .44 mag.

I tried a 1/2 box of .500 magnums and I didn't find it any more unpleasant than a .44 truth be told. I'll admit they weren't the real fire breathers, more like a 3/4 power reload with a bullet in the mid 300 grain range.

Worst ever recoil experience for me was a TC in 35 Rem loaded to stop troop carriers. DAMN! Do not want. A "friend" used to bring it to the range every weekend with some new super smashum load for me to try and me, I tried it every time. You'd think I'da learned.

Well, that's me - strong back, weak mind.

I have a load for the Casull consisting of a 260g cast TC over 34g W296 that's kind of nice. That Casull is so heavy, it soaks up the recoil.

I top out with the 44 mag, that's enough for me.

I saw one in my dealers case last time I was there. My hands hurt just looking at it!

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Misty

I haven't shot a 500 or 460, but do not mind the 44 mag. A buddy tried to surprise me with hot loads in his Super Blackhawk 44; but I just let my arm ride the recoil up to take out the surprise. The first day I had my 29-3 Classic hunter I shot 50 rds of 240 gr Magtech and they were not bad. Some of my 1400 fps .357 loads feel about that level. I would like to try the 500 but would probably go for the versatility of the 460. Since I already shoot 45 colt. I have fired a bolt action 50 BMG, not that is recoil!

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Revolver luvin' Mountaineer

The most I've ever fired was a Super Redhawk in .454 I owned for a short time. I had some Hornady rounds I fired in that thing. It had the same grips on it that my GP100 had. Something about the idea of that just didn't sit right with me. I suddenly realized my hunch was right. My wrist and elbow hurt for 30 minutes after firing that thing. I even tried to trade it to a cop buddy of mine who is about 6'2", 265, and when he shot it he gave it back to me and told me I should sell it. Go figure.

I got to shoot one at the range I belong to. One of the members was sighting it in for hunting up North. It was the longer barrel compensated version.. I did not find it much different than a full 44 Mag. Not a "fun" gun for range blasting that's for sure. I think the alloy 357 mag J frame is a nastier gun to shoot. I would not buy either of them.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I have a four-inch .500 and nothing much to use it on, but the price was right. The only time I range tested it I was shooting some down-powered loads from Ballistic Supply -- gosh, I wish they'd get back in business! -- that were softies for the .500 but carried the energy of a .44 magnum. Completely controllable, though why would they not be with all that weight in the gun?

Least comfortable shooting experience of my life so far involved Cor-Bon .44 Special loads in a 296. Hot rounds + light frame = ouch! Uncushioned grip, too. I replaced the titanium cylinder with a steel one for extra weight, and before I shoot it again I will put some shock-absorber grips on it.

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David Wilson

I've had pretty much the same experience with my buddys' SRH in 454...3 shots and OUCH!!! It must be the way the grips/grip angle fit me; I don't mind the recoil of my Magnum Research BFR (7 1/2') at all...someday I'd love to shoot a 460 or 500
Heck, I might even buy one to take care of roaming Mastadon's, Rhino's or the occasional Wooly Mammoth

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Adopt a retired Greyhound :)

Here is the actual video of Sip shooting the 500. He had to enhance the ending.

YouTube - .50 cal Smith & Wesson

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Still Running Against the Wind

I didn't mind the recoil too much to shoot on occasion, but realistically I don't have a need for such a handgun. I'm not afraid of recoil, as I've shot 15 to 20 full house magnum loads in my M&P340. Now that is a hoss.

I agree completely. My friend bought one, and we were both kind of let down as far as the nasty recoil we had heard about. (He got the one with the longer barrel, not the 4") We've both been shooting as long as we can remember, and have both shot handguns that kick more. Heck, my 6" 629 with a stout load has a snappier recoil. He hasn't tried loading the 700 grain bullets yet, maybe those will get our attention!

I haven't shot one yet. I'll probably buy one when it comes out in aluminum/scandium framed with a 2 1/2" inch barrel. Should be about 30 ounces or so.

Those look like light loads....

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

Looks like he left his speedloaders at home.

I own a mod 29-2 8 3/8 and my son owned and sold a Desert Eagle (DE) in .44 Mag but still owns one in .50 Mag. The DE .44 Mag felt almost light to shoot full magnum loads. I think it was it's weight that seemed to lighten the recoil as compared to my M29-2. The DE .50 Mag was a different matter. I threw a couple of rounds into the magazine, loaded and chambered a round. Bang!

Ok, I'm done. I ejected the other round out of the pistol and handed it back to my son. All I have to say about it is...OW! and never again. I don't need to beat myself up. After all, it's supposed to be fun!

I handload everything I own except for them pesky .22LR's. My new load for my Mod 29-2 is a 240gr LRN bullet behind 8 grains of W231. It barks and jumps and as wimpy as that might seem it is a joy to shoot.

LP

Just out of curiosity; has anyone ever thought a making a carbine for the .500 S&W cartridge? Lever action or single shot? Maybe a single shot like a Ruger #3? Ballistically, could the .500 S&W cartridge be considered an improved version of the .50-70?

Would be good if they could for the UK market...

Yup, that's just about the same way I felt after I fired two shots from a 500.


You can get an T/C Encore barrel or an H&R Handi-Rifle in 500 S&W.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

A buddy of mine bought two of the S&W Hunter versions, one to shoot and hunt bears with, the other to put away unfired as an investment. I went to the range with him when he first tried it out. I was sitting at the next shooting bench to him. Everytime he touched off a .500 it felt like someone was slapping me up side the head! I declined the offer to shoot it myself, and for the first time was glad when he was ready to leave the range.
Steve

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Steve

'A man gotta know his limits' and mine is the 44 mag.

Jerry

You guys got to be kidding me .It was 4 hours be for the smile came off my face after i shot my 500 S&W. The only thing that bothered me was the small 20 round boxes. If you got one you better reload.

A .500 S&W makes sense to me. That's why I have three.

Sometimes, I think it isn't the gun itself that folks don't like, but it may be the personality of people that own/use those type of firearms that another may have an aversion...

It's like asking your buddy "Do these pants make my butt look fat?"

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Lost it all in a boat accident